A Royal Getaway: Cunard’s Queen Victoria review

I took advantage of the priority embarkation and was warmly welcomed by the onboard crew before heading to my suite which was available nearly straight after boarding. The suite was spacious with a separate living area, desk/vanity, walk-in wardrobe (with plenty of hangers and tall enough for long dresses!), bathroom with luxurious Penhaligon's toiletries, fluffy robe and slippers, and a welcome bottle of prosecco. I was promptly greeted by my suite attendant before setting off to explore.

The Grand Lobby is the central hub of the ship, decorated in an Art Deco style and looking particularly beautiful on this voyage adorned with festive garlands and Christmas trees. The space certainly is grand but not ostentatious, with lots of wood and warm colours, and I loved walking through this area each evening enjoying the twinkling lights and soft music.

In terms of bars and lounges you are spoilt for choice, with a couple of options around this central lobby area, great for meeting friends and people watching, and the nearby Queens Room is the place to go for dancing to the music of the resident band.

Another popular spot is the Commodore Club, a panoramic lounge at the forward of deck 10 where you can watch the world go by, and the Winter Garden is a bright and airy conservatory-like space just next to the Pavilion Pool. Of course, not forgetting the Golden Lion, a traditional British pub that feels just like home.

For evening dining, we had our own table reserved in the Princess Grill restaurant and on the first night I enjoyed a full five courses plus petit fours. The restaurant offers an intimate dining experience and guests have the opportunity to pre-order special dishes to be served at the table for dinner, such as chateaubriand or duck a l'orange, offering a sense of occasion to your evening meal. You can also enjoy breakfast, lunch, and afternoon tea here if you wish.

During this cruise I also enjoyed speciality dining at Steakhouse at the Verandah, which carries an additional charge and serves mouth-watering prime cuts and seafood. This speciality restaurant also plays host to culinary residencies on select sailings, featuring menus from Michelin-starred chefs Michel Roux Jr and Nathan Outlaw.

Our first full day was spent in port, although I opted to stay on board and enjoy the facilities, including making use of a two-hour spa pass - lovely and quiet while many other guests were ashore! The perfect spot to unwind, the pass allowed access to the hydrotherapy pool, relaxation room with sea views, sauna and steam rooms. You can also purchase treatments including massages, facials, and salon services.

Later in the day I sampled the traditional afternoon tea, during which you can enjoy a selection of sandwiches, sweets, and of course the obligatory scones with clotted cream and jam.

A day at sea was the chance to sample Cunard's enrichment and activities programme and it was a jam-packed schedule. I enjoyed a couple of insight lectures, including a moving and informative talk about the D-Day Landings which fitted in with the following day's call to Cherbourg from where excursions are offered to the Normandy Beaches.

The dance class in the Queens Room was particularly well attended by both participants and observers, and the pub quiz in the Green Lion was a lively affair. No matter your interests, there was plenty to keep you occupied from watercolour classes and art talks to games and fitness activities.

Our sea day was also the Gala Night, and on this voyage it was a Black and White theme. There was a fantastic atmosphere on board, with guests dressed to impress and enjoying the festivities and photographers dotted around to capture special moments.

The headline evening entertainment was a Christmas performance from special guest Aled Jones in the Royal Court Theatre, a space which felt akin to a West End theatre with rich reds and golds, and even private boxes. Afterwards, you could take your pick from the Big Band Gala Ball in the Queens Room, relaxing piano music in the Commodore Club, or a late-night disco in the Yacht Club, amongst many other options!

The final day was spent in Cherbourg and I enjoyed breakfast delivered to my suite, a luxury which is included for all guests, before spending the morning wandering around the town. Back on board I dined al fresco at the Lido Grill for lunch, a casual spot at the aft of deck 9 which serves a selection of burgers, sandwiches, and hot dogs and surrounds the Lido Pool - I can imagine this area being very popular in the warmer weather. Casual dining can also be enjoyed in the Lido Restaurant for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, served buffet-style.

My last afternoon and evening on board was spent strolling the areas of the ship I'd yet to explore: the Grills Terrace dotted with luxurious sun loungers, the cosy dual-level library complete with spiral staircase, and a final walk around the promenade deck - a feature I love on a cruise ship!

Overall, I enjoyed the variety on offer during this short voyage with Cunard and the festive ambience on board fitted beautifully with the timeless style of the ship. This is classic cruising which aims to honour the sense of occasion of traditional ocean travel in a warm and relaxing environment.